DC has had a vast array of writers working on their comics over the years, from Scott Snyder to Grant Morrison. And one writer that has become a constant provider of quality stories is none other than Gail Simone. Through her multitude of comics, Gail Simone has become an inspiration for newer writers and a proud "nerd" on her social media accounts.
Simone's name has become synonymous with certain titles such as Birds Of Prey in the comic book world. However, she has written many praise-worthy comics over the years and has even invented characters that have become classics.
Plastic Man #1-#6 (2018)
When DC's Rebirth reintroduced Eel O'Brian aka Plastic Man, Gail Simone gave him a six-issue miniseries. From running a strip club to getting revenge on his old boss from his criminal days, Gail Simone's run of Plastic Man brought the character back with respect.
Gail Simone nailed the crude and oddball humor of Plastic Man, showcasing that he's definitely a dubious man trying to be a hero. It doesn't always work for Eel O'Brian, but he has a good heart, leading to a wacky but fitting adventure for the elastic hero.
Birds Of Prey: The Death Of Oracle (2011)
Though she did not create the Birds Of Prey, Gail Simone did turn them into her babies via a plethora of iconic stories featuring the characters. One of the best is with Barbara Gordon aka Oracle as she faces off the Calculator, one of Barbara Gordon's best villains, while the Birds fight a new villain: Mortis.
There are twists and turns combined with lots of action and suspense that lead to some shocking moments. Though the New 52 DC universe relaunch had mixed responses, Gail Simone still shined with Birds Of Prey.
Domino: Hotshots (2019)
Gail Simone is most famous for her DC books but she has written for Marvel as well. Released in 2019, Domino: Hotshots sees the mutant Domino creating her own team of female heroes and anti-heroes known as the Hotshots. This team features the Natasha Romanoff version of Black Widow, White Fox, Outlaw, Diamondback, and Atlas Bear.
These drastically different characters who tend to operate solo now working together lead to comedic antics that will make any reader grin. However, their combined skills and ability make for unique action as they are caught between two warring nations. As a bonus, most of these characters are not household names thus making it far from the typical superhero team.
Secret Six: Villains United (2015)
For fans of the Suicide Squad, Gail Simone also revamped this strange team of villains. Secret Six: Villains United features a team of six villains hired by a mysterious figure named Mockingbird to fight Lex Luthor's Society. Gail Simone expertly crafts this team of C-list villains similar to what James Gunn did with The Suicide Squad.
These are all characters who don't fit in anywhere, but Gail gives them a purpose with a chemistry that makes the team unforgettable and turns these characters into fan favorites. Mix in dark humor, an intriguing story, and some mystery, and the result is the delicious cake that is Secret Six: Villains United.
Birds Of Prey: Dead Of Winter (2008)
As the Birds of Prey embark on a mission, they encounter the Secret Six resulting in complications for both teams. Meanwhile, the Birds Of Prey are being controlled by the Spy Smasher, thus leading to a spy thriller story that feels different than stories prior.
Obviously, the highlight of this story is the interaction between Gail Simone's two teams: the Birds Of Prey and the Secret Six. However, the rivalry between Oracle and Spy Smasher proves to be a thrilling one as they fight for leadership. Gail Simone manages to give each member of both teams enough time to shine in the spotlight at least once or twice in the story so nobody seems wasted.
Birds Of Prey: Of Like Minds (2004)
Guest-starring Nightwing and Cassandra Cain, Of Like Minds features the Birds Of Prey facing off against the ex-hero Savant, who tortures Black Canary to get the identity of Batman from Oracle. This story featured the recruitment of Huntress to the team, helping them stop Savant.
Savant proves to be a stand-out villain of the series since he pushes Oracle and Black Canary to their limits. This actually marks the first appearance of Savant, who recently got his live-action debut in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, played by none other than Michael Rooker.
Wonder Woman: The Circle (2008)
Gail Simone even took on the most famous female comic book hero of all time: Wonder Woman. In The Circle, Princess Diana must fight Nazis, as well as a mysterious group known as The Circle. The titular villain group is an interesting antagonist that brings twists and turns about Wonder Woman's origins.
Fans praised this story for making it a more personal story for Diana, making her feel more human despite her literal godlike powers. Much like with Birds Of Prey, Gail Simone balances tones in the story rather well, mixing dark and light-hearted elements when needed.
Batgirl: The Darkest Reflection (2012)
After years of writing Oracle, Gail Simone brought Barbara Gordon back onto her feet as Batgirl. With an older Batgirl, she showcases Barbara Gordon's skills as a vigilante on her own. With little interaction with the Bat-Family, she faces off against the new villain known as the Mirror.
Gail Simone proves that Barbara Gordon is a badass as both Oracle and Batgirl. While she deals with the anxiety and fear of what happened with the Joker, she operates alone using her brains, brawn, and a little bit of humor to protect her city.
The All-New Atom (2008)
When Ray Palmer goes missing, his protege discovers that Ray was The Atom. As a result, young Ryan Choi becomes, as the title suggests, The All-New Atom: genius, superhero, and microscopic. Where Gail Simone shines is how she introduces Ryan Choi: he's kind, lovable, and optimistic, which makes the readers instantly get hooked into his story.
Ryan Choi also is not a slap in the face to Ray Palmer fans; the passing of the torch from Ray to Ryan feels natural and shows much respect to the old-school hero. At the same time, Gail Simone provides pure sci-fi fun for all ages combined with Asian superhero representation, which is often overlooked in comics.
Batgirl: Wanted (2014)
Not only does Barbara have to deal with the loss of her brother, but she, as Batgirl, has been framed for his murder. As a result, Batgirl becomes the number one target for her father: Jim Gordon. This is one of Batgirl's darkest stories for obvious reasons, but a very important one. Gail Simone puts Batgirl in a tough situation that would likely lead to her seeking help from someone like Batman or Nightwing.
Instead, she remains hopeful and courageous, managing to balance her personal life as Barbara, finding her brother's killer, fighting her own father as Batgirl, and fight villains such as Victor Zsasz. This story shows Barbara's humanity: she has doubts, she struggles but she pushes through, never giving up on herself.